As the final buzzer sounded, the Kates Gymnasium audience had already erupted in joy as the No. 1 Ashland University women's basketball team won a third consecutive Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament championship with a thunderous 99-58 victory over Trevecca Nazarene.
With a flawless 20-0 conference record in the regular season, the Eagles earned the right to host the G-MAC women's basketball tournament for two days. While March can often be a slower month for many Ohio residents as the state slowly transitions out of winter, Ashland was treated to a thrilling show to help alleviate the stress of unpredictable weather.
En route to their conference championship, Ashland rained down 3-pointers against the Trojans, knocking down 16-of-33 from deep, a staggering 48.5 percent. Conversely, the Eagles protected the perimeter with grit, only allowing 17 3-point attempts by the Trojans with only three connecting. All season, Ashland's quick decision making on the arc on offense and communication on defense caused numerous lopsided long-range outcomes, and the story remained unchanged through the tournament. The Eagles averaged 13 3-pointers each game throughout the championship with a total 41.5 percent clip for the entire tournament run.
Nearly every Eagle who entered the game recorded at least one made field goal, including five Eagles who scored in double figures. Much of Ashland's scoring punch came on an assist, led by senior point guard
Savaya Brockington's masterful 10-point, 11-assist performance. Out of the Eagles' 39 made field goals, 28 came off of an assist. Ashland also scored 17 points off of turnovers, frequently converting their eight steals into points on the other end.
Making the most of every shot
Following the conclusion of the championship game, the conference spotlighted the performances of a shortlist of those who shined brightest over the two-day tournament. After breaking out in the semifinals against Thomas More, the tournament Most Valuable Player was awarded to graduate guard
Erin Daniels off the Ashland bench. Daniels had been involved in each year of Ashland's latest conference three-peat, including one year as a graduate assistant coach in the 2022-23 season. In her final collegiate season as a player, Daniels averaged 12 points, 3.7 assists, and a team-high 3.3 3-pointers made per game during the tournament. Daniels not only displayed her poise and experience with the Eagles, but she also showcased versatility and leadership in the final match.
After suffering an injury in the semifinals, junior point guard
Morgan Yoder was unavailable to play in the championship game. In her stead, Brockington resumed her role in the starting five. In the second unit, Daniels emerged as the primary facilitator and point guard after spending the majority of the season producing from the wing. She finished the afternoon with a team-high 17 points and five assists alongside one steal and 5-of-8 3-pointers. Daniels' mix of on-court and courtside knowledge and experience likely influenced her ability to transition into an orchestrating role. She showed no hesitation in initiating plays and looked to fit the role naturally as though it was her 100th time doing it this year.
The willingness and next-Eagle-up mentality has been a constant all season, but it has never been more on display than Daniels' tremendous MVP performance. In total, Ashland's bench squad provided 37 points in the victory.
Following the conference win, Ashland will anxiously await the results of the NCAA Division II rankings for the upcoming regional tournament. To announce the results, a selection show on Sunday (March 10) at 10:30 p.m. will be live streamed on NCAA.com.
